Judges 3: 12 – 30
Try to write “freedom through the outhouse” with the hand you usually don’t use to write.
In verse 14 it describes a long occupation the Israelites faced. If you were one of the Israelites how would you be feeling towards the end of such a harrowing experience?
Why does God allow his people to go through such difficult times?
What are some ways that God may be trying to discipline you in your life?
How can you tell if a difficult time is a time of discipline or just the evil of a fallen world?
How do the Israelites respond to such discipline in their lives?
Why does it take them so long to cry out to God for assistance?
How does God respond to the pleas of his people for deliverance?
Spend a couple of minutes crying out to God in prayer for the difficulties in your life.
Describe the Israelite Special Forces team assigned the task of eliminating their captors.
Why does God use such a quirky and mundane plan to accomplish his purposes?
What are some unusual skills that you have that may have a greater Kingdom purpose than you have previously imagined?
How does a person go about surrendering their talents to be used by God?
Describe the appearance of Eglon (fatso) the king of Moab.
What might this king be doing sitting in an upper room of his palace?
Describe the tactical accomplishment of this operation.
Why does the text give us such graphic detail of the actual assassination?
What are some humorous elements of this disturbing little story?
Why does Ehud go through all the intrigue of killing the king of Moab before leading an army to fight them?
What are the socio-political results of this revolution?
How have you seen God use the circumstances of your life to accomplish his own ends?
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Standing on a Fault-line
Numbers 16
When is a time in your life that you got busted for something one of your friends did?
How would you describe the group of people who opposing Moses?
Restate their argument in your own words. Why are they so upset at Moses?
Describe Moses’ counter arguments to these groups.
What are Moses’ motives for being so melodramatic?
When is as time that you have resisted rightful authority in your life?
Why do we tend to be so distrustful of authority in our culture?
When is the appropriate time as a disciple to follow authority?
How can we become more open to the authentic authorities in our lives?
Describe the elaborate test that Moses sets up to establish who should have authority.
Why does God go along with this ritualistic test with such a brutal outcome?
How would you describe God’s general attitude in this passage?
Why is God so concerned about this threat to Moses’ authority?
Why does God have them recycle the metal from the ritual censers in verses 37 – 39?
In verses 41 – 42 the Israelite assembly reacts to this test. Why does God react to this assembly in a way that seems so rash?
What does this show us about popular opinion’s impact on our lives?
How easy is it for your friends to sway you from what you know is the right thing to do?
Why is it that we tend to pay so much attention to what “everyone” says about things?
When is a time recently that your peers have had a negative effect on your life?
How does a person combat the effects of peer pressure in their lives?
What does it mean to “make atonement” for people in this situation?
Describe how the priests go about mediating between God and the assembly.
Who is someone in your life for whom you should be interceding more in prayer?
How are you going to go about doing that this week?
When is a time in your life that you got busted for something one of your friends did?
How would you describe the group of people who opposing Moses?
Restate their argument in your own words. Why are they so upset at Moses?
Describe Moses’ counter arguments to these groups.
What are Moses’ motives for being so melodramatic?
When is as time that you have resisted rightful authority in your life?
Why do we tend to be so distrustful of authority in our culture?
When is the appropriate time as a disciple to follow authority?
How can we become more open to the authentic authorities in our lives?
Describe the elaborate test that Moses sets up to establish who should have authority.
Why does God go along with this ritualistic test with such a brutal outcome?
How would you describe God’s general attitude in this passage?
Why is God so concerned about this threat to Moses’ authority?
Why does God have them recycle the metal from the ritual censers in verses 37 – 39?
In verses 41 – 42 the Israelite assembly reacts to this test. Why does God react to this assembly in a way that seems so rash?
What does this show us about popular opinion’s impact on our lives?
How easy is it for your friends to sway you from what you know is the right thing to do?
Why is it that we tend to pay so much attention to what “everyone” says about things?
When is a time recently that your peers have had a negative effect on your life?
How does a person combat the effects of peer pressure in their lives?
What does it mean to “make atonement” for people in this situation?
Describe how the priests go about mediating between God and the assembly.
Who is someone in your life for whom you should be interceding more in prayer?
How are you going to go about doing that this week?
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Switchblade Mama
Exodus 4: 18 – 30
When is a time as a child that you simply did not understand your mother’s actions?
Based on what you see in this text describe Moses’ relationship with his father-in-law.
In verses 18 – 23 how would you describe Moses’ relationship with God?
What are the main themes of God’s instructions for Moses?
Why is God so concerned about his people receiving freedom through Moses’ action?
Why does God so intensely punish Pharaoh for his behavior when He hardened him?
What are some ways that you see your inner person hardening against God’s ways?
How can a heart be softened once it has begun down that path of hardening?
Why does God seem to change his mind about Moses along the way?
What is Moses doing or not doing that has drawn God’s severe disfavor?
What are some other times in the Bible that you remember this pattern of God’s behavior?
If you were Zipporah at this point what thoughts and attitudes would be racing through your mind?
Describe the ritual that Zipporah has to perform on her son and Moses.
Why in the world does this action cause God to relent in His violent pursuit of Moses?
What are some things you are missing in your life that may make you unready for service?
What changes do you need to commit to making in your life this week?
Who is someone who could help hold you accountable to that action?
Imagine you are Aaron, how would you be feeling as you hear you will see your brother for the first time in forty years?
Why might God send Aaron, Moses’ brother, to meet Moses at this point in the story?
What effect would Aaron’s presence have on Moses and his confidence?
Who is someone towards whom that God wants you to serve as an encouragement this week?
How are you going to actively go about encouraging them?
When is a time as a child that you simply did not understand your mother’s actions?
Based on what you see in this text describe Moses’ relationship with his father-in-law.
In verses 18 – 23 how would you describe Moses’ relationship with God?
What are the main themes of God’s instructions for Moses?
Why is God so concerned about his people receiving freedom through Moses’ action?
Why does God so intensely punish Pharaoh for his behavior when He hardened him?
What are some ways that you see your inner person hardening against God’s ways?
How can a heart be softened once it has begun down that path of hardening?
Why does God seem to change his mind about Moses along the way?
What is Moses doing or not doing that has drawn God’s severe disfavor?
What are some other times in the Bible that you remember this pattern of God’s behavior?
If you were Zipporah at this point what thoughts and attitudes would be racing through your mind?
Describe the ritual that Zipporah has to perform on her son and Moses.
Why in the world does this action cause God to relent in His violent pursuit of Moses?
What are some things you are missing in your life that may make you unready for service?
What changes do you need to commit to making in your life this week?
Who is someone who could help hold you accountable to that action?
Imagine you are Aaron, how would you be feeling as you hear you will see your brother for the first time in forty years?
Why might God send Aaron, Moses’ brother, to meet Moses at this point in the story?
What effect would Aaron’s presence have on Moses and his confidence?
Who is someone towards whom that God wants you to serve as an encouragement this week?
How are you going to actively go about encouraging them?
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